“Passing Fancies”

 MURDER. Prohibition. Harlem. Writers. Poets. Society. Racism. Jim Crow. Deceit. Empathy. POWER. Those who wield power, are those that control the narrative. Power to keep the status quo...power to keep society “in line.” Power to justify the means to an end. Knowing one's proper place. “How easy to reduce others to convenient categories...but she seldom thought how neatly she too fit into a conventional box…” (111) How to gain independence and survive outside the box. 

Great follow-up novel to Relative Fortunes, however, the ending left me confused. But perhaps that is indicative of the times...post WWI, post suffrage, pre-civil rights. A confusing and dangerous time for sure.

“Mycroft Holmes”

Mycroft Holmes

By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse

This book sparked my interest for two reasons: 1) I’m a fan of mysteries, 2) the author, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle can write a mean mystery...Abdul-Jabbar is gifted writer as well. Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s older brother provided a new insight into the Holmes’ skills of keen observation and deduction. Set in the 1860s, in Trinidad, the story weaves social constraints, friendship, slavery, and love into a well executed mystery. With a smattering of history thrown in, the characters tossed me into the fray and left me mostly satisfied with the outcome. Abdul-Jabbar has written two more Holmes novels, they are definately going on my to read list.

“The Downstairs Girl”

I often fall into books. History often beckons me in...Stacey Lee is an author who blends history with fiction and showed me a world I knew little about. Atlanta, 1890. Chinese were the answer to filling the labor gap during Reconstruction. Who knew? Yet the word that jumped out at me, while reading Lee’s novel, was invisibility. How does one live a life of invisibility? How do you keep to the shadows? How do you blend into the background? How do you express yourself without being detected? How is it that society ignores your very existence? How do you challenge the prescribed norms? How do you find peace in your life? Happiness? Love?

“Relative Fortunes”

 

Relative Fortunes

By Marlowe Benn

New York. 1920s. Voting. Money. Greed. Rape. Abortion. Corruption. Family. Career. Marriage. Not wanting to have to marry to secure an income may have been part of Julia Kydd’s motivation for coming to New York. But, in the end, after solving a heartbreaking murder, she came to appreciate the role of the suffragist in society, as well as, realize freedoms she had gained due to their hard work. I think at times we take our independence for granted. The rights we have. Our ability, as women. to make our own way in the world on our terms. Marlowe Benn’s characters wove their way into my head and my heart. 

“Sword and Pen”

 

Sword and Pen

By Rachel Caine

Sword and Pen is the fifth and final installment of The Great Library series. I was excited to join my friends for one last adventure to save the Great Library of Alexandria. I could never decide if the book took place in the past or in the future...not that it really mattered. My love of books and reading brought me back to the characters. Thirst for knowledge. Sharing knowledge with the world. Working against corrupt power. War. What really held my interest was the juxtaposition between humans, the automatons, wizardry, and books. Friendships and family blend together. Loss and victory become bittersweet. Fighting to share knowledge with all mankind, not just those in power.